Newsletter

November 2025

Monthly Update

Greetings! The APU GWEP team recently returned from a highly productive November at the GSA 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting in Boston. Our faculty, including Dr. Diana Lynn Woods, Dr. Sanggon Nam, Dr. Lowell Renold, Dr. Diane Chau, and Dr. Joy Smith, successfully presented three key posters on Age-Friendly care innovations, and we were honored to host a dinner presentation sponsored by the California Geriatric Society at Eataly. While these achievements cement our leadership in geriatric scholarship and have already sparked new collaborations with UNLV and the University of Texas at El Paso, our focus is now firmly fixed on translating this knowledge into concrete action and accelerated growth within our program as we approach the end of the year.

Looking ahead, we are launching several major initiatives designed to strengthen our workforce and improve care delivery across Southern California. A critical priority is the advanced training and education of our geriatric nurse practitioner and physician preceptors, in partnership with Care Connect MD. Concurrently, we are driving high-tech innovation in education by deploying new resources, including animated avatars, to enhance our student training curriculum. Building on valuable focus group feedback from our initial participants, this spring will see the official launch of our revised TTOUR 12-week interprofessional training course, featuring enhanced content and new ideas. Finally, we are actively strengthening our capacity at underserved sites, such as Citrus Gardens Assisted Living in Hemet (and potential new facilities in San Dimas), by strategically building deeper integration with our social work and physical therapy programs for the next academic year. These steps reflect our commitment to translating cutting-edge research into real-world, compassionate care.

Happy Thanksgiving!

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

– Dr. David V. Picella, PhD, FNP, CNS, GS-C, CPG

What’s Up Next

Upcoming Events

December’s Grand Rounds Speaker:

Marissa Brash, DrPH

Register Now

Presentation Date: 12/19/2025

Presentation Time: 11:00 AM

Seminar Details: Please join us for an exciting lecture on caregiver burden. More details to be announced soon. (CEUs will be offered)

Monthly Article

Innovation Spotlight: Elli Cares App – Preventing Wandering, Connecting Families

Written by Dr. David Picella

Picture an older adult living alone in a suburban neighborhood. Their adult child lives far away, balancing work and family. Part-time caregivers assist, but dementia introduces new dangers: wandering past familiar streets, turning up confused at bus stops or farther afield, and unsteady steps that lead to falls. A phone number taped to a walker rarely solves the problem. Neighbors step in to help, but the family struggles with distance and worry. Elli Cares, a free mobile app, offers a practical solution. Designed specifically for people with dementia, it supports . . .

Read The Full Article Here

What You Missed

Past Events

Speaker of the Month:

Dr. Jennifer Fernandez, DPT

Seminar Title: Pelvic Health Physical Therapy for the Aging Population

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Speaker Bio: Jennifer was born and raised in Southern California. She attended undergrad at UCLA and graduated in 2007 with a BS in Physiological Sciences. She attended the Doctor of Physical Therapy program here at APU and graduated in 2010. Jennifer is an assistant Professor at APU and the current Director of Clinical Education in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program here at APU. Prior to Jennifer’s return to APU, she was working as a clinical Physical Therapist for over 10 years and received her Orthopedic Certificate Speciality (OCS) in 2012. Her primary work was in outpatient orthopedics with an emphasis on pelvic health, pregnant and post-partum orthopedic issues. Jennifer continues to work in the clinic and is excited to be back at APU and having an impact on future physical therapists.

Seminar Details: Pelvic Health Physical Therapy for the Aging Population, is a presentation that will discuss pelvic floor dysfunction and physical therapy for the geriatric population. As the population ages, pelvic health concerns such as incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and pelvic pain can become increasingly prevalent, impacting independence and quality of life. This session will explore the importance of recognizing and addressing pelvic floor dysfunctions in older adults, highlighting the specialized role and scope of pelvic physical therapy in their management. We will review current assessment and treatment strategies tailored to the aging population, and examine real-life case examples to illustrate clinical reasoning and outcomes. By the end of this presentation, participants will gain practical insights into how pelvic health physical therapy can enhance function, dignity, and overall well-being in older adults.

Seminar Objectives: 

  • Detail conservative treatment strategies, including behavioral modifications and physical therapy techniques, for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS)
  • Understand the importance of pelvic health in older adults
  • Explore pelvic floor dysfunctions in the geriatric population
  • Identify the role and scope of pelvic physical therapy
  • Identify the prevalence and specific types of Pelvic Floor Disorders (PFD), particularly incontinence, in the geriatric population
  • Recognize the risk factors associated with urinary incontinence (UI), Overactive Bladder (OAB), and Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP)
  • Explain the components of a comprehensive pelvic PT evaluation (subjective and objective)

October 2025

Geriatric News

News Articles:

Alzheimer’s decline slows with just a few thousand steps a day

A new study shows that walking just 3,000–5,000 steps daily can slow cognitive decline in people with early Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment by three years, by improving brain blood flow and reducing inflammation — highlighting a simple, effective lifestyle intervention to delay dementia progression.

Website Link

Alzheimer’s decline slows with just a few thousand steps a day

A new study shows that walking just 3,000–5,000 steps daily can slow cognitive decline in people with early Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment by three years, by improving brain blood flow and reducing inflammation — highlighting a simple, effective lifestyle intervention to delay dementia progression.

Website Link

Enzyme is Promising Path to Degenerative Joint Diseases Cure

A Yale study reveals that overactive enzyme cPLA2 drives cartilage destruction in osteoarthritis and disc degeneration; blocking it — genetically or with the antihistamine fexofenadine — dramatically reduces inflammation, pain, cartilage loss, and bony spurs, offering the first potential disease-modifying therapy for these incurable joint diseases.

Website Link

Enzyme is Promising Path to Degenerative Joint Diseases Cure

A Yale study reveals that overactive enzyme cPLA2 drives cartilage destruction in osteoarthritis and disc degeneration; blocking it — genetically or with the antihistamine fexofenadine — dramatically reduces inflammation, pain, cartilage loss, and bony spurs, offering the first potential disease-modifying therapy for these incurable joint diseases.

Website Link

Over 60 and online

A new book, Wired Wisdom: How to Age Better Online, co-authored by Harvard’s John Palfrey and Eszter Hargittai, reveals that adults over 60—the fastest-growing online demographic—are savvier at spotting scams than younger users, drawing on life experience despite being prime targets due to wealth, tech gaps, and cognitive risks, per a survey of 4,000 seniors who also show heightened privacy worries that curb data sharing; the authors call for age-inclusive designs like bigger fonts and intergenerational help to turn digital hurdles into assets for healthier aging, yielding broader societal gains in equitable tech.

Website Link

Over 60 and online

A new book, Wired Wisdom: How to Age Better Online, co-authored by Harvard’s John Palfrey and Eszter Hargittai, reveals that adults over 60—the fastest-growing online demographic—are savvier at spotting scams than younger users, drawing on life experience despite being prime targets due to wealth, tech gaps, and cognitive risks, per a survey of 4,000 seniors who also show heightened privacy worries that curb data sharing; the authors call for age-inclusive designs like bigger fonts and intergenerational help to turn digital hurdles into assets for healthier aging, yielding broader societal gains in equitable tech.

Website Link

October 2025

New and Upcoming Research

APU Faculty at GSA 2025: Leading Innovations and Shaping Future Geriatric Care

Written by David Picella

The Azusa Pacific University (APU) Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) faculty and collaborators played a prominent role at the Gerontological Society of America’s (GSA) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting, “Innovative Horizons in Gerontology,” in Boston this November. Our team presented three distinct posters showcasing the excellence of APU’s research and commitment to . . .

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Other Research Articles:

Long-Term Health and Cost Outcomes of a 24-Week Multicomponent Frailty Intervention in Older Adults

A nonrandomized clinical trial in rural Korea tested a 24-week multicomponent frailty intervention—combining group exercise, nutritional supplements, depression care, medication deprescribing, and home safety modifications—among 119 socioeconomically vulnerable older adults, matched via propensity scores to controls using 66-month national health data; results showed intervention participants gained 6.53 months of survival without death or long-term care needs, alongside $7,688 per-person savings in health costs (cost:benefit ratio of 8.82), mainly from fewer hospitalizations and care requirements, affirming its value for promoting independence and curbing economic strains in aging societies.

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Long-Term Health and Cost Outcomes of a 24-Week Multicomponent Frailty Intervention in Older Adults

A nonrandomized clinical trial in rural Korea tested a 24-week multicomponent frailty intervention—combining group exercise, nutritional supplements, depression care, medication deprescribing, and home safety modifications—among 119 socioeconomically vulnerable older adults, matched via propensity scores to controls using 66-month national health data; results showed intervention participants gained 6.53 months of survival without death or long-term care needs, alongside $7,688 per-person savings in health costs (cost:benefit ratio of 8.82), mainly from fewer hospitalizations and care requirements, affirming its value for promoting independence and curbing economic strains in aging societies.

Website Link

Digital Detection of Dementia in Primary Care

A cluster-randomized trial across 9 federally qualified health centers in Indianapolis evaluated digital tools for detecting Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD) in primary care among 5,325 adults aged ≥65 without prior diagnoses; clinics were assigned to usual care, passive digital marker (PDM) alone (an EHR-based ML algorithm), or combined PDM with Quick Dementia Rating System (QDRS, a brief patient questionnaire), both embedded in the EHR for automated alerts and referrals. Over 12 months, the QDRS + PDM group saw a 31% higher incidence of new ADRD diagnoses (15.4% vs. 12.4% in usual care; adjusted OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.05-1.64) and 41% more diagnostic workups (36.7% vs. 29.0%; adjusted OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.12-1.77), with earlier detection, while PDM alone showed no benefit—offering a scalable, low-burden strategy to boost early identification in underserved settings despite challenges like low questionnaire completion rates.

Website Link

Digital Detection of Dementia in Primary Care

A cluster-randomized trial across 9 federally qualified health centers in Indianapolis evaluated digital tools for detecting Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD) in primary care among 5,325 adults aged ≥65 without prior diagnoses; clinics were assigned to usual care, passive digital marker (PDM) alone (an EHR-based ML algorithm), or combined PDM with Quick Dementia Rating System (QDRS, a brief patient questionnaire), both embedded in the EHR for automated alerts and referrals. Over 12 months, the QDRS + PDM group saw a 31% higher incidence of new ADRD diagnoses (15.4% vs. 12.4% in usual care; adjusted OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.05-1.64) and 41% more diagnostic workups (36.7% vs. 29.0%; adjusted OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.12-1.77), with earlier detection, while PDM alone showed no benefit—offering a scalable, low-burden strategy to boost early identification in underserved settings despite challenges like low questionnaire completion rates.

Website Link

Home Health Aides Caring for Adults With Heart Failure

A pilot RCT involving 102 home health aides caring for heart failure patients showed that a 1.5-hour virtual training improved HF knowledge (by 1.62 points on the DHFKS scale) and caregiving self-efficacy (by ~8 points on the CC-SCHFI), with largest gains among those with low baseline scores, while adding a mobile app for nurse texting did not boost these primary outcomes but significantly reduced self-reported preventable 911 calls (P=.04) versus enhanced usual care; exploratory data trended toward 44% fewer emergency department visits for intervention patients (IRR 0.56, P=.17), underscoring HHAs’ potential as frontline assets in home-based HF management and calling for larger trials to confirm patient benefits.

Website Link

Home Health Aides Caring for Adults With Heart Failure

A pilot RCT involving 102 home health aides caring for heart failure patients showed that a 1.5-hour virtual training improved HF knowledge (by 1.62 points on the DHFKS scale) and caregiving self-efficacy (by ~8 points on the CC-SCHFI), with largest gains among those with low baseline scores, while adding a mobile app for nurse texting did not boost these primary outcomes but significantly reduced self-reported preventable 911 calls (P=.04) versus enhanced usual care; exploratory data trended toward 44% fewer emergency department visits for intervention patients (IRR 0.56, P=.17), underscoring HHAs’ potential as frontline assets in home-based HF management and calling for larger trials to confirm patient benefits.

Website Link

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